Ludays

This is Lakou a — a piece I wrote in Haitian Kreyol, expressing how your Lakou, your yard, can serve as a metaphor for the journey that you take in life. “Lakou” is a space that embodies the idea of a shared space both physically and culturally, where community and identity are shaped, representing a vital aspect of Haitian culture.

Nan lakou a kote m kanpe, gen anpil k ap boulvese m. Gen momann kote lakou a plen flè ki gen plizye koule, soley a klere sou wout lan, tankou yon chemen k ap pote m ale nan yon kote ke m we nan rev selman. Men gen de le m gade lakou a , flè ki te kanpe byen bel yo, plenn koule, ki aroze wout lan, yo disparet. Kounya se yon chemen ki manke limye, menm lalin lan pa klere nan syel lan. Se le sa m vin ap panse ak ki kote m ye. Men, lakou sa, se youn ki sinifi la vi sa. Ou pap janm kon wout lan. Ou te met pran wout lan on mil fwa, ap gen chanjman kanmenm. Lakou a se yon senbol pou vi sa. Gen jou ka p briye byen fo e gen jou kote l fe nwa, men sa pa vle di wout lan pa gen enpotans. Chemen an seten, men lavi a fet pou w viv. Menm le w pa kon ki wout pou fe, konmanse na lakou a, wa jwen wout lan kanmenm. Men, se nan lakou a mwen kanpe, map obseve chemen ka p ret tan mwen. Si m deside m pa ale jodi an, wout lan ka chanje, men sa pa vle di pap gen yon wout pou m pran demen.

Translation: BEWARE, it is translated by google, my last 3 braincells needed a break! But, it captured the essence of the original piece.

In the yard where I stand, there are many things that unsettle me. There are moments when the yard is filled with flowers of various colors, the sun shines on the path, like a road leading me to a place I only see in dreams. But sometimes when I look at the yard, the beautiful flowers that once stood, vibrant in color, watering the path, disappear. Now it’s a path lacking light, even the moon does not glow in the sky. It’s then that I begin to think about where I am. But this yard signifies this life. You will never truly know the path. You may have taken it a thousand times, yet there will still be changes. The yard is a symbol of this life. Some days can shine brightly while others turn dark, but that doesn’t mean the path is insignificant. The road is uncertain, but life is meant to be lived. Even when you don’t know which way to go, starting at the yard, you will eventually find the path. Yet, here I stand in the yard, observing the road that may delay me. If I decide not to go today, the path may change, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a path for me to take tomorrow.

Alexa jwe Lakou by Tafa Mi-Soleil